São Paulo Mayor Announces Major Crackdown Success in Cracolândia

São Paulo's Cracolândia Sees Significant Drop in Street Population: Mayor Nunes Reports Progress São Paulo, Brazil – May 15, 2025 – São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes announced a major reduction in the number of individuals in open drug use in the city's notorious Cracolândia area. The decrease, he claims, is a direct result of a concerted effort between the city's administration and the state government. "Today, we have reasons to celebrate," Mayor Nunes stated in an interview with Jovem Pan News. "The work done by the city and state government over a long period, since 2022, has yielded positive results." He cited specific figures: on May 5th, 2023, there were 651 people in open drug use in Cracolândia; this number has dropped to 103 as of May 5th, 2025. This significant reduction is attributed to a multi-pronged strategy involving consistent outreach efforts and the provision of treatment options. The mayor emphasized the role of dedicated teams of health professionals and social workers in persuading individuals to seek help. While acknowledging that some people remain in precarious situations, Mayor Nunes expressed optimism about the ongoing progress. The city's commitment to addressing the complex issue of drug addiction and homelessness in Cracolândia continues.